Method aind apparatus for cleaning photosensitive elements

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR AND A METHOD OF CLEANING A PHOTOCONDUCTIVE SURFACE WHEREIN AN OPEN CELL OR PARTIAL OPEN CELL SPONGE MATERIAL, SUCH AS POLYURETHANE, IS UTILIZED FOR CLEANING THE PHOTOCONDUCTIVE SURFACE. THE SPONGE MATERIAL IS EITHER MOVED THROUGH A CLEANING FLUID OR A CLEANING FLUID IS ADAPTED TO FLOW THROUGH THE SPONGE MATERIAL DURING THE CLEANING OPERATION. IN ONE EMBODIMENT, THE SPONGE MATERIAL IS WOUND IN A H ELIX ON A CORE. IN ANOTHER EMBODIMENT THE SPONGE MATERIAL IS RIBBED RADIALLY AND IN A FURTHER EMBODIMENT THE SPONGE MATERIAL IS RIBBED LONGITUDINALLY. IN A STILL FURTHER EMBODIMENT THE SPONGE MATERIAL IS AN OSCILLATORY PAD AND IN ANOTHER EMBODIMENT IS IN THE FORM OF A PADDLE WHEEL.   D R A W I N G

DEFENSIVE PUBLICATION UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Published at therequest of the applicant or owner in accordance with the Notice of Dec.16, 1969, 869 O.G. 687. Tile abstracts of Defensive Publicationapplications are identified by distinctly numbered series and arearranged chronologically. The heading of each abstract indicates thenumber of pages of specification, including claims and sheets ofdrawings contained in the application as originally filed. The files ofthese applications are available to the public for inspection andreproduction may be purchased for 30 cents a sheet.

Defensive Publication applications have not been examined as to themerits of alleged invention. The Patent Office makes no assertion as tothe novelty of the disclosed subject matterl PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 23, 1971T892,011 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENTS GaryBoyd Gustafson and Oliver William Gnage, both of 901 Elmgrove Road,Rochester, N.Y. 14650 Filed Dec. 14, 1970, Ser. No. 97,758 Int. Cl. G03g13/22, 15/22 US. Cl. 1349 5 Sheets Drawing. 10 Pages SpecificationApparatus for and a method of cleaning a photoeonductive surface whereinan open cell or partial open cell sponge material, such as polyurethane,is utilized for cleaning the photoconductive surface. The spongematerial is either moved through a cleaning fluid or a cleaning fluid isadapted to flow through the sponge material during the cleaningoperation. In one embodiment, the sponge material is Wound in a helix ona core. In another embodiment the sponge material is ribbed radially andin a further embodiment the sponge material is ribbed longitudinally. Ina still further embodiment the sponge material is an oscillatory pad andin another embodiment is in the form of a paddle wheel.

Zfilfi METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENTS N. 23,1971 G. B. GUSTAFSON ET AL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

DEVELOP EXPOSE TRANSFER CHARGE CLEAN N O O B AM N SW m R E mw .AL GOATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a. 6. mmmwmw 86 GARY B. GUSTAFSON OLIVER W.GNAGE INVENTORS ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANINGPHOTUfifiNSITIVE ELEMENTS NQW.

Filed Dec.

Nov. 23, 19711 e. B. GUSTAFSON ETAL 'E'WZMH METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCLEANING PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENTS Filed Dec. 14, 1970 5 Sheets*Sheet 5I22 27 7 f X A GARY B. GUSTAFSON OLIVER W. GNAGE INVENTORS ATTORNEYS 0v.23, 1971 G. GUSTAFSON ETAL TBZMM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANINGPHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENTS Filed Dec. 14, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet GARY B.GUSTAFSON OLIVER W. GNAGE INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1971 GUSTAFSQNETAL 132,01

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENTS Filed Dec. 14,1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 GARY 8. GUSTAFSON OLIVER W. GNAGE INVENTORSATTORNEYS

